Conference Programme
This is the tentative conference programme – subject to adjustments.
For the detailed Conference Programme, please follow this link:
Social Events
Plenty of opportunities for interaction and networking will be provided, including:
- MANCHESTER ‘CRITICAL’ WALKING TOUR – Wednesday 29 October (approximately 16:30 – 18:30 – tbc). The walk will be led by our very own Professor Steve Millington, who will give us a great overview of Manchester sites important for the city’s history and identity. We will start from the front of the Business School Building and finish at The Alchemist. The walk is included in all registration options.
- WELCOME RECEPTION – Wednesday 29 October (18:30 – 21:00) at The Alchemist, 1 New York Street. We will have the chance to welcome you all, have a drink and propose a toast to the success of the conference. A menu of specially selected (and named) IPBA 2025 cocktails, mocktails and beer/wine will be served, along with nibbles. The reception is included in all registrations.
- GALA DINNER on Thursday 30 October (19:15 – 23:00) in the Business School Building Atrium. We will have the chance to show you the awarded sustainable building of the Business School and enjoy a three-course meal along with welcome drinks and wine/beer for everyone. Of course, this is when we will announce the Best Paper Award and the host of next year’s IPBA conference… You can expect some surprises as well… The dinner is included in all Full Registrations and the Day Rate of Thursday 30 October. If you want to bring along a non-delegate companion, please let us know.
- FAREWELL RECEPTION ON Friday 31 October (approximately 18:00 – 20:00) at the Holiday Inn, right after the closing of the conference.
- Catered, ‘no-hurry’ coffee/tea breaks in a great space in Holiday Inn (included in registration) will take place on both days of the conference.
- Lunch hour on Thursday and Friday in the Holiday Inn restaurant (included in registration).
- A number of POST-CONFERENCE TOURS on Saturday (for extra fee and subject to participation – please dress appropriately for Manchester (i.e. comfortable shoes and a raincoat!):
- A Smell-walk of Manchester city centre (approximately 10:00 – 12:00) where Kate McLean (smell-walk and smell-mapping expert) will guide us through and help us understand the smells of the city. The walk will be followed by a smell-mapping workshop at a city centre cafe where we will create our own smell-maps of Manchester over coffee/tea. There is a fee of £25.
- A Canal-tour of Manchester led by a specialist guide (time to be confirmed). We will walk along the city’s numerous canals and learn about the social, cultural and economic history of the city that gave birth to the Industrial Revolution.
- We have secured a discount for all IPBA 2025 delegates at the National Football Museum. A the registration desk, you will find the QR code that you can use for your visit to this fascinating museum, which despite its focus is interesting for everyone and not only football fans.
Conference Programme:
| Day | Time | Activity | Location | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 29/10/25 | 13:30 – 16:30 | Doctoral Colloquium | MMU | Doctoral Presentations |
| 16:30 – 18:30 | Manchester Walking Tour | ‘Critical walking tour’ of Manchester city centre | ||
| 18:30 – 21:00 | Welcome Reception | Holiday Inn | ||
| Thursday 30/10/25 | 09:00 – 12:30 | Main Conference Day 1 | Holiday Inn | Keynote 1 and parallel sessions |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch | Holiday Inn | ||
| 13:30 – 17:30 | Main Conference Day 1 | Holiday Inn | Parallel sessions and Keynote 2 | |
| 19:30 – Late | Gala Dinner | TBC | ||
| Friday 31/10/25 | 09:00 – 12:30 | Main Conference Day 2 | Holiday Inn | Keynote 3 and parallel sessions |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch | Holiday Inn | ||
| 13:30 – 17:30 | Main Conference Day 2 | Holiday Inn | Parallel sessions and plenary closing | |
| Saturday 1/11/25 | 10:00 | Guided Tours in Manchester |
DRAFT CONFERENCE PROGRAMME